Progress, distractions, and file hosts

So we've made quite a bit of progress on 0.6a and it's coming together nicely.  Phases 1 and 2 are done, and when phase 3 is completed testing will begin.  Still a few weeks (3-4) until testing begins, and then another few weeks until release.  Diablo 3 is proving to be a distraction as it's an amazing game but I had been figuring that in all my estimates so far.  Total scene count is up to 169, but a few of those is scenes that weren't part of the system before.  Think actually scene add is 18 or so.

On a side note, holy shit does 3dcg work better when it's on a SSD.  If you're another developer using the program to create images for your game, getting one will make things alot easier for you.

Finally, Rapidgator seems to have crashed.  The admins are saying that it'll be back up soon but they've been saying that for quite a few days now.  Fortunately I had just triggered a payout so I didn't lose much if they don't come back.  I've added filelaser and bitshare as hosts to make sure the game is available, because file factory isn't enough on its own.  And if any of you are developing your own content and want some information on how to go about keeping your game free while making a bit of money on the side, send me a PM on one of the boards I have a nice writeup explaining how to do it right, and the upsides and downsides of it.

Edit : Uploading CG packs to Bitshare and Filelaser now, gonna take a while though.

Rough 0.6 release schedule

 0.6 breaks into 7 phases kinda naturally. Phases 1-4 inolve the primary arc and Terra with a few threads of leftover arcs from 0.5 and prior. Phase 5 is the opening of the new area to general exploration and is heavily focused on the other unresolved questions from 0.5. Phase 6 and 7 involve intergrating content from 0.4 and prior into the 0.6 content and a new sexual training sidequest.

0.6a will be phases 1-3 and will be comletely linear. 0.6b will be 4&5 and will be a bit more open world, but still confined to one region map. 0.6c will be phases 6&7 and you'll be able to go whereever you want (except further foward).

Optimistically I'd like to have 0.6a in testing within 4-6 weeks and released within a few weeks of that, with the following versions spaced not more than 3 months apart.

But this is all just planning, what I want to and to some degree think that I can do.

Edit : And a teaser of course

Wiki!

A big thank you to Savyar and StarkePK over at Legend of Krystal, who have started a wiki on Harem.  Wander on by, see what's there and contribute anything you think is appropriate.  They're planning on adding in a walkthrough and CG unlock guide as well as character descriptions and pictures from the game.

Thanks!

http://haremthefantasyslavegame.wikia.com/wiki/Harem_The_Fantasy_Slave_Game_Wiki

I'm doing a bit to support them, but by in large it's completely they're creation.  For my part work is ongoing on 0.6 and progress is being made.  Figure about 20-30 minutes of gameplay currently, with 12 new scenes added.  0.6 is going to be another very large content patch like 0.5 was, but with it's design it'll be fairly easy to carve into sections to allow for more progressive releases.  Ultimately there will be 7 phases to it that all are fairly discrete.  So current plans is to release phases 1-3 together, 4&5 later, then finally 6&7.  There won't be any big cliffhangers between the sub-releases, although there is a doozy coming at the end of 0.6.

Stay tuned!  Of course, no ETAs on anything yet.

And what's a post without teasers.  New characters!  Well not exactly new, but only hinted at or brushed on in current content.

0.6 progress

Been writing away on 0.6 and it's turning out well so far.  If everything works out how I think that it should I think it will be the best content that I've written for the game so far.  0.6 is going to revolve around the recovery of Terra (either rescue or recapture depending on path) but goes much further into the backstory of Rata/Celee and the different factions.  Should be interesting and make the world of Harem a bit more vibrant.

So far I've mostly written the first of 4 arcs in 0.6 which occurs while you're traveling into Rata on the tram.  Heavily focused on Jessica and either Donnie or Tomas and how they integrate themselves into your group.  It also is the first time that the character really has had time to talk to his companions/slaves for a while and goes into his quest, backstory, and goals a bit further.

Oh yes, and of course there's a lot of sex in it.  Already added in 10 new scenes (each path will see three of them during the first arc, but they'll be very different based on the path and how you've acted to Jessica in the past).  Jessica's gotten a cock in every hole so far, and Angelica gets to introduce herself to her new companion as well.

Progress is being made, but I don't have any eta beyond months away.

And what's an update without a few teasers.

Now is the time for feedback!

Alright, with the bugs and file hosting issues pretty much taken care of, all my attention is going to be focused on 0.6.  Well once this move is finished and internet is back to a consistent thing.

But what I need more than anything else right now is feedback.  Let me know what you've thought of the game so far, either here or in either of the feedback threads.  If I develop in the dark the results won't be as good.  What work, what didn't, what you want to see expanded, what you want to see closed.  I've added a poll off on the right for a quick answer.

If you can spare a minute or three, let us know what you thought.

I'm unlikely to make another post here for a few weeks until I have something worthwhile to say about 0.6.  But I will be responding to comments both here and in the feedback threads.

Possible alternative ddl

So I have been hearing about problems with file factory, and am trying to find other download sites that I can use and gain some small commission off of.  Unfortunately most of the big ones don't allow any US resident to participate.

Rapidgator doesn't seem to have that restriction, so I'm going to try them.  For now just the Harem 0.5.1 game itself, but if it works out I will copy all the CG packs there as well.  Try it, let me know if it works properly.

http://rapidgator.net/file/6356152/Harem_0.5.1.exe.html

And as always, if you can't get either of these to work, please send me a PM on either hongfire or futunari and I'll reply back with a mediafire link.

Update : The requests that I've gotten for the MF link have gone to about 0 since adding the rapidgator link.  For now I'm going to call the downloading question answered and continue using both File Factory and Rapidgator from here on out.  The CG packs will be available on both, that should be updated very soon.

I'm still exploring donation options, possibly with extras.  Thinking of throwing in a 100% CG save for donators, maybe the unecrypted version.  But I'm not going to worry about that too much until we get close to 0.6, which is still months away.

Work starting on 0.6

So from reading the feedback, I'm fairly happy with 0.5.1 as the final release version of 0.5.  There's a bug or two left, but nothing gamebreaking enough to call for a 0.5.2.  Work will begin on 0.6.  My number of blog posts will be less over the next few weeks and months, but be confident the game is being worked on.  I have no ETA on 0.6 release at all currently, so don't ask :)

Two more people have joined the Harem team, otakujoe23 and HirotonoRei, both will be focused on editing and proofreading.  Hopefully 0.6 will not be as much as an affront to the English language as 0.5 is.  It will still be as much of an affront to human sensibilities as 0.6, potentially even more.  But that's why you all play :)  Many thanks to the both of them.

Still feel free to hit me up for mediafire links if you can't get filefactory to work.  I'm working with some ideas to better release 0.6, monetizing it to some degree while trying to give access to as many people as possible.  I'm considering a time tiered release, but it's still just in early thoughts.

I would ask everyone to play the game to come by and leave feedback on either the hongfire or futunaripalace threads.  A few reasons.  First feedback is critical to make the game better.  I need to know what worked and what didn't.  What scenes had you fapping and which ones yawning.  What you want to see happen in later versions.  Things like that are tremendously useful to all of us, both in terms of the quality of what we make and our own motivation.  It also helps people find the game by keeping it active on the forum.

And drop off a few plus reps and thanks as well to anyone in the team that's responding in the thread.  Just makes us feel good!

Thanks for playing and let me know what you thought!

Oh, if any mods over at LoK is reading this.  I'm trying to post your game there as well in the creative corner, but the mod for that sub-forum hasn't be on for a few days and the post is in the moderation queue currently.  Your board seems to be a great place for Harem and any help would be appreciated.